Report: Walden gets a one-game suspension

Posted by Mike Florio on November 18, 2013, 1:40 PM EST

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Well, we now know what a helmeted head butt of an unhelmeted player costs.

According to Jay Glazer of FOX, the NFL has suspended Colts linebacker Erik Walden one game for applying a head butt to Titans tight end Delanie Walker, after Walden removed Walker’s helmet by the face mask during a play.

Walden has the right to appeal the suspension, and it will be handled by Ted Cottrell or Matt Birk.

The suspension could have been, and arguably should have been, longer. The infraction happened after the whistle, and it involved a player’s head.

The process presumably will be expedited, with a decision possibly coming by Wednesday, so that Walden will be able to participate in practice as Indy prepares to play the Cardinals in Arizona.

I love my colts, I bleed blue, however there is no room for that. Accept responsibility for your actions and move on and improve from it. That’s not colts football, sit, then come back take control and learn from it!

We have come to expect no less from the NFL. Their entire suspension/fine policy has become a laughing stock. If headbutting with a helmet a helmet-less person only gets you one game suspension then the NFL can expect more of this type of behavior. Walden will appeal it, ex-players will hold court and cut the suspension and implement a small fine. If the NFL wants to truly get serious about player safety then either do it or shut the hell up.

Is the NFL really saying that ripping a dude’s helmet off and then headbutting him is the same as a hit made during play? Because this is the same punishment Dashon Goldson and James Harrison were given(though Goldson’s was overturned).

At least with helmet-to-helmet hits during a play you can say heat of the moment, bang-bang play, etc. This was just disgusting.

Walker couldve easily been fined too as he threw a lifeless punch in immediate retaliation which i dont blame the guy as its an instinct but a lil more mustard behind it and it wouldnt have gone unnoticed.

As a titans fan who grew up in indiana with the rest of my family being colts fan this is about as unnacceptable as it gets. for 1 the colts are a classy organization and for 2 this guy should literally be on a 2-3 game suspension without pay. Hit him where it hurts and thats in the pockets.